Lead Horticulturist

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Lead Horticulturist

Job Profile Title
Greenhouse Coordinator

Job Description Summary
The Lead Horticulturist is a professional horticulturist responsible for the upkeep and development of the University of Pennsylvania Biology Department's 3.5 acre James G. Kaskey Memorial Park. They perform their work according to the highest industry standards, working towards and within the mission of Kaskey Park. They perform and supervise all aspects of day-to-day plant care and garden maintenance.

Job Description

The Biology Department is comprised of 34 faculty members, approximately 100 staff/postdocs/graduate students, and 250 undergraduate majors, with a shared mission of research, education and outreach. Members of the department work on fundamental questions in biology that span from cell and molecular biology to ecology and evolution. The department has been long recognized for its collegial environment and places priority on inclusive excellence. It is located on the south end of UPenn's campus in the Life Sciences Quad which is comprised of Carolyn Lynch Labs, Goddard Labs, the historic Leidy Labs, and the new Levin Building. These buildings all surround the scenic and iconic James G. Kaskey Memorial Park. This 3.5 acre park is a unique, highly-cultivated oasis that has been under the care of the Biology Department for over 100 years. The BioPond, at the heart of the garden, is one of the few remaining original features which, along with the surrounding gardens, attracts students, faculty, staff and community members throughout the year.

The Lead Horticulturist is responsible for the upkeep and development of the University of Pennsylvania Biology Department's 3.5 acre James G. Kaskey Memorial Park. They perform their work according to the highest industry standards, working towards and within the mission of Kaskey Park. They perform and supervise all aspects of day-to-day plant care and garden maintenance. This includes plant installation, weed control, pruning, pond management, event setup and cleanup and maintaining cleanliness and safety of the grounds. They supervise and train seasonal, part time, and temporary employees who assist with this work. They also perform basic tool and equipment repair and maintenance on electric and gas-powered tools, hand tools, the tractor, pond pumps and aeration systems and keep an organized inventory of park equipment and supplies in storage areas. The Lead Horticulturist also keeps organized records of plantings and other changes made within the park and makes appropriate additions and updates to collections and records databases.

The Lead Horticulturist also designs and executes both seasonal (3-12 month scope) and short-term (2-3 year scope) plans for weed or plant growth management, garden renovations and planting bed development within the park. They also fully participate in participate in and contribute to long-term master planning (1-20+ years) and realization within the park. Here they work closely with the Greenhouse and Garden Manager, Garden Committee, University project managers, and contractors on project initiation, design and implementation of major planting and infrastructure plans with the goals of improving the health, function and aesthetic development of the gardens and pond for decades to come.

As part of the Biology Department staff with a mission of education, they interface with Biology students, faculty and staff members regarding research projects and labs on an as-needed basis. They also conduct occasional garden tours, and provide general information to visitors. They make seasonal updates to the website highlighting what is happening in the garden and lead ongoing content creation for on-site interpretation and the park social media accounts.

Responsibilities:

• Perform and supervise all aspects of plant care and garden maintenance throughout Kaskey Park. This includes plant installation, weed control, pruning, pond management and maintaining cleanliness of the grounds
  
• Train and supervise seasonal, part time, and temporary workers.
  
• Design and execute both seasonal (3-12 month scope) and short-term (2-3 year scope) plans for weed or plant growth management, garden renovations and planting bed development within the park.
  
• Fully participate in and contribute to long-term master planning (1-20+ years) and realization within the park. Work closely with the Greenhouse and Garden Manager, Garden Committee, University project managers, and contractors on project initiation, design and implementation of major planting and infrastructure plans with the goals of improving the health, function and aesthetic development of the gardens and pond for decades to come.
  
• Biology department and visitor outreach and support: interface with students, faculty and staff within the Biology Department as needed for research projects and labs. Lead occasional tours, and answer visitor questions. Make seasonal website updates and lead ongoing content creation for on-site interpretation and park social media accounts.
  
• Perform basic tool/equipment repair and maintenance on electric and gas-powered tools, hand tools, tractor, pond pumps and aeration systems. Maintain an organized inventory of park equipment and supplies in storage areas.
  
• Set up and clean up events within the garden and assist Greenhouse and Garden Manager with event scheduling.
  
• Work with SAS or Biology department staff, Facilities groups, Penn Campus Arboretum staff, as well as contractors and other departments to plan and facilitate park systems improvements and maintenance.
  
• Perform additional duties as assigned
  

Requirements:

• Minimum education: Associate of Science and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Minimum 3-5 years of horticultural experience strongly preferred.
  
• Horticultural training through secondary education, internships, apprenticeships, on the job training or a combination of these is required.
  
• Working knowledge of applied plant physiology, plant systems, and best management practices is required.
  
• Strong plant identification skills are required and knowledge of hardy and non-hardy ornamental landscape plants suited to the Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic region is preferred.
  
• Strong weed and pest identification skills and knowledge of integrated pest management strategies is required.
  
• Must have a valid Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License (Category 6 - Ornamental and Landscape, or similar) or be able to acquire one within 4 months.
  
• Good written, verbal and visual communication skills required.
  
• Experience (1-3 years) supervising employees or acting as team or crew leader is required.
  
• Some experience working with ponds or other water features is preferred.
  
• Ability to identify, organize, properly prioritize and track a wide variety of garden tasks over multiple seasons and years is required.
  
• Must be able to safely operate typical powered garden equipment and possess a basic knowledge of power- and non-powered tool maintenance.
  
• Willingness and ability to work outside in a wide variety of weather conditions typical to the Philadelphia area is required.
  
• Must be able to acquire certification to operate a University vehicle or drive a vehicle on University business.
  
• Must be willing and able to actively collaborative as part of a team.
  
• Some planting design experience, and the ability to effectively communicate ideas is required.
  

Application documents required:

• Resume
  
• Cover Letter
  

*If selected for an interview a Digital portfolio will be required. This should be in PDF format consisting of a sampling of images of horticultural projects, plans or gardens the candidate has maintained, created or collaborated on. Images should be labeled individually or with a key to indicate approximate date and location of the work.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range
$20.45 - $29.50 Hourly Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
  
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
  
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
  
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
  
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
  
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
  
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
  
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
  
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
  
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
  
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
  
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
  

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay


To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Leidy-Laboratories-of-Biology/Garden-Supervisor--SAS-Biology_JR00072278







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